As the British took control of the region many French, Native American, and traders east of the Mississippi River began working for them. The French were rivals of the British, who undercut them by paying higher prices and selling trade goods for less and by luring the Indians with liquor and gifts. The strength of the French lay in their Indian mode of life and in their possession of key locations. The British established the great Northwest and Mackinaw Companies and gained a strong grip on the trade that continued long after the American Revolution. When the British ousted the French from the region, the Ojibwe allied with British traders and soldiers to drive away American settlers. The British reorganized the fur trade, which reduced the tribes economic powers and led to numerous disturbances.
